Katherines Sheaves | Page 7

be no more interruptions while
you are conning the algebra lesson."
"I hate mathematics," Jennie affirmed, with an impatient shrug, "but the
things you most dislike are supposed to do you the most good, so I just
have to bottle up when it's time for algebra and try to play 'it's an angel

being entertained unawares.' Good-by, Miss Minturn. I'll see you again
later." And bestowing a bright glance and nod upon her new friend, she
shut the door and went whistling cheerily down the hall.
"That's a queer 'pickaninny'! I didn't mean to hurt her, though,"
observed Miss Minot, as she curled herself up on the foot of a bed,
preparatory to getting acquainted with her new roommate.
"She certainly possesses originality," Katherine laughingly responded;
"but I like her none the less for that."
"Poor young one!" Sadie continued. "She doesn't have a very easy time
of it here. She is a stray waif, and hasn't a relative in the world, to her
knowledge."
"She spoke of an aunt," interposed Katherine.
"She calls Miss Wild 'aunt,' but she isn't, really, and the child actually
does not know her own name. The way of it was this," Miss Minot
went on to explain: "When she was a baby there was a terrible railway
accident, in which it was supposed both her parents were killed, for
nobody could be found to claim the child after it was over; and Miss
Wild, an old maid with a small annuity, was on the same train, and, like
an angel, cared for her, hoping some relative would be found when the
dead were identified; but no clew to her identity was ever obtained, and
the woman has done the best she could for her all these years."
"How very lovely and noble of Miss Wild," breathed Katherine,
appreciatively. Then, glancing around the disorderly room, she added:
"Now, Miss Minot, I feel almost like an intruder to have you so upset
on my account. Do let me help you put some of these things away."
"Oh, never mind the truck," Sadie lazily returned. "I'll take care of the
things presently. I'm right glad that you are a junior," she resumed, in a
comfortable tone. "It is so much nicer to have a roommate who can go
right along with you, and I'm sure you'll be a great help to me."
Katherine smiled as her companion thus unwittingly revealed a strong

phase of her character. She saw that her tendency was to lean upon the
nearest prop; and, as to be "forewarned is to be forearmed," she
resolved to govern herself accordingly.
They chatted socially until the janitor appeared with Katherine's trunk,
whereupon Sadie bestirred herself once more to bring order out of
chaos.
This was much easier said than done, and as she saw that she was going
to be very much crowded, Katherine unpacked but very few things at
that time. She generously said she would try to get along with one-third
of the closet and one of the drawers in the bureau, and utilize her trunk
trays for her own waists and finery, while she could stow things not
often needed in the lower portion.
Later she hired the janitor to put up a bracket shelf in one corner of the
room, tacking a long chintz curtain to it, and, with a dozen hooks
screwed into a cleat underneath, thus improvised a very convenient
little closet for her individual use.
While the roommates were "becoming acquainted," Jennie Wild, full of
what she had seen and heard, and, for the time being, unmindful of the
waiting algebra lesson, rushed down to the recreation room, where
many of the students were still congregated, and reeled off her news to
a bevy of curious and interested listeners.
The information that the new junior was a "Christian Scientist" created
quite a flutter of excitement. Some were horrified and indignant
because such a pariah had been admitted to the seminary; others
ridiculed and laughed to scorn the doctrines of the "new cult," while a
few appeared indifferent and declared that every one had a right to her
own opinion upon religious subjects.
The matter was pretty thoroughly canvassed, however, the attitude of
the principal having weighty influence and governing the
preponderance of opinion; and by the time the supper bell rang almost
every student in the house had learned the whole story and decided that,
for the present at least, she would give the newcomer a wide berth.

Katherine became conscious of the iciness of the atmosphere the
moment she entered the dining room and came under the battery of the
hundred or more pairs of curious and critical eyes that were eagerly
watching for her to appear. Miss Reynolds, who had overheard some of
the gossip and adverse criticisms, was